SCIENCE FICTION MAY 1951 NEWS LETTER No. 20

CONVENTION BULLETIN READY ACKERMAN SAILS FOR EUROPE The first Issue of the Nolacon Bulletin, Forrest Ackerman and his wife, Wendayne, official news journal of the forthcoming 9th (of Los Angeles) sailed from New York in Science Fiction Convention, was published mid-April -for England and the continent. in early April. The convention committee has Ackerman plans to attend the first Europeon chosen the ST. Charles Hotel as headquarters Science - Fiction Convention which opens In and taken the Claiborne Room there for the London on May 10th. Afterwards, the couple three-day meeting. This year's conclave is will tour France, Germany and Switzerland, in New Orleans, over the Labor Day weekend. expecting to return to the States in July.

In a report dated February 27th, the As far as is known, they are the only bulletin states the convention society has Americans attending the London affair, altho 129 members; and a treasurer's report dated one Canadian fan, Lyell Crane of Toronto, March l;th shows a balance of $163 in funds announced his intention of sailing. on hand. Membership "cards" made of tooled aluminum were mailed out with the bulletin. Late dispatches from London say Advertisements for the program booklet run the convention has grown to un­ to $6.50 per page, $5.50 per half-page, .§2 expected dimensions, forcing for a quarter-page , with booster adverts at the committee to abandon plans sixty cents each. The booklet will be multi- for housing the meeting at the lithed (similar to News Letter), and adver ­ White Horse Inn. The response tisers may furnish pen-and-ink sketches with to convention publicity proved their copy. Deadline is August first. so great that a hall at the Royal Hotel (Bloomsbury, London) was booked. In addition to the St. Charles, seven The preliminary, informal sessions will open other nearby hotels and their room rates are at the White Horse, and move to the hotel listed, with the request that you make room over the week-end for the business sessions reservations as early as possible. These Walter Willis of Belfast. Northern Ireland are being handled by Emanuel Lashover, 2956 Is publishing the official program, Elysian Fields ave, New Orleans. The com ­ mittee requests that all reservations be NEW BOK FOLIO mailed to him; while memberships, advertise ­ ments, and all other matter concerning the A new portfolio of six Hannes Bok prints convention be sent to Harry Moore, 2705 Camp (most of which have never been published in st, New Orleans 1J, La. magazines) will be available soon at $3. Privately published, the folio will be sold As for transportation, Moore asks that only by Bok and his publisher. (Bok: PO Box drivers willing to share the ride, and non ­ 157> Cathedral Station, New York City, 25.) drivers wanting rides, each contact him for effective liason. If traveling by train, Bok recently sold two covers, one each the Illinois Central from Chicago is the to MARVEL SCIENCE STORIES and OTHER WORLDS, fastest in the Mississippi Valley-- from 8 plus an Interior for a Poul Anderson yarn in the morning until midnight, same evening. upcoming in SUPER SCIENCE STORIES. Coming in from the west coast, the Southern Pacific "Sunset Limited" is the best bet-- a GOTHAM FANTASY WRITERS 50-hour trip but you have to fly to do less. Ken Beale (115 east Mosholu Parkway, Travelers from the east are due for the Bronx 67) advises that a Science-Fantasy worst and may as well face it: there is less Writers' Workshop is underway in New York, speed south of the Potomac. The fastest is after having been organized last fall. Group Southern Railway's "The Southerner," almost at present consists of six fans and writers, 28 hours from New York via way of Washington with membership open to any would-be writers and Atlanta. Another route, through Wash ­ past their childhood. Beale states the mem ­ ington and Cincinnati, requires 54 hours, bers are not a conventional writers ' club although it is JOO miles shorter. nor a writing class. There are no dues.

the leading newspaper of the science fiction world 2

The Russians are responsible for the bombing and they follow it with a full-scale invasion, taking the country very quickly. Poking around through the plot are a State Department man who seems to know the Russian plans exceedingly well, a hero who turns collaborationist to bore from within, and a pack of children who damned near wind up in the extermination chambers. Solution T-25 is the secret weapon to oust the Invaders, an encephalic dosage compounded in an under­ EVERY BOY’S BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION edited ground Florida laboratory. This novel, like by Donald Wollheim. (Frederick Fell, Inc., Judith Merril's of last year, is a fair ex­ New York City, 1951, $ 2.75) ample of the "outside" approach to science­ fiction, as opposed to that written by the Wollheim has here collected ten short long-experienced old hands. ~BT stories and novelettes for teen-agers, ten THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS by John Wyndham yarns which adequately suit their purpose, (Doubleday & Company, New York, 1951, $2.50) and ten yarns by the way that we adults read in the 1920's and 50's as adult fare. Here are Cummings' "The Gravity Professor, Bob "When a day that you happen to know is Olsen*s "The Four-Dimensional Roller-Press, Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday S.P. Wright's "The Infra-Medians," Dresser's -- there is something seriously wrong some­ "’White Army," Clifton Kruse' "Dr. Lu-Mie, where." These are the opening words of this novel (which was serialized in Colliers) and Keller's "The Living Machine," Ed Hamilton's "Conquest of Two Worlds," Simak's "Asteroid set the mood for a different, exciting tale. of Gold," Jack Williamson's "In the Scarlet Star," and Ray Bradbury’s "King of the Grey When William Masen woke up to a silent world that Wednesday morning, he knew some­ Spaces." I enjoyed this volume more than thing was amiss and quickly discovered the Wollheim's recent anthologies for adults. answer: with the apparent exception of him­ Take that as either an ironical commentary self, the entire world was blind. To compli­ on his editing or my taste. -BT cate this situation, the triffids came, giant man-eating plants. The problem is DREADFUL SANCTUARY by Eric Frank Russell unfolded in the two opening chapters, with (Fantasy Press, Reading, Pa. 195-t, ?2»75) the remainder of the book detailing the struggle between the triffids, the blind and "How do you know you're sane?" That was the sighted. A very good novel, fast-moving the big question in I9I+8, after Astounding and well-written, with a surprise ending . Wyndham is J. Beynon Harris. “MBW S-F published Russell's top-flight science­ mystery yarn. Remember the Norman Club, and THE ILLUSTRATED MAN by Ray Bradburv the discovery of just such a club in Toronto (Doubleday & Company, New York, 1951, ?2.75) during the convention that year? A companion volume to last year's By the year 1972, seventeen moon rockets THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, nearly equal had been shot into space with seventeen asp­ to but not the superior of that ear- erate explosions, always short of the goal. Her tome. In this book, eighteen Every factor was blamed, Including Russian WaSSnir shortstories (four of which are new) sabotage, until the Russians themselves made are tied together by means of an Illustrated and failed with the seventeenth. Armstrong, Man, an unemployed carnival worker who can­ a suspicious scientist, had a personal in­ not hold a job because his skin-pictures are terest in #18 and he took steps to protect living, moving things instead of ordinary the ship, steps which led him and a detect­ tatoos. No man will hire him when that man ive to the Norman Club where he was forced can see his own death pictured on the Illus­ to prove his sanity. In many ways this book trated Man's body. Bradbury, telling the will remind you of the author's earlier suc­ tale, watches and puts into words the eight­ cess, SINISTER BARRIER. A good one. -BT teen stories acted out on the Man's body as SOLUTION T-25 by Theodora DuBois he sleeps; and in the end he too flees, as he finds his own death scene forming. (Doubleday & Company, New York, 1951, The volume opens with "The Veldt," which Mrs. DuBois is a mystery writer, with a appeared in the SatEvePost as "The World the long career and many solid thrillers behind Children Made"; also included are The Other her; this book shows her craftsmanship and Foot," a sequel to the Negro rocket yarn of command of the written word, but the science last year-- the sequel puts the shoe on , the fan may raise an eyebrow at her command of other foot by bring a white man to the Negro the atomic bomb. In places it has too little world of Mars, and a very brief story of a power and in others, too much— as for in­ ■humble Mexican farmer who did not fear t h e stance the opening scene when a house tucked end of the world because he did not know the away in the woods is flattened by a bomb meaning of the city-dweller's expression. -falling on a distant city. And there is a For everyone but anti-Bradbury readers. -Bl certain carelessness with radiation. CITY AT WORLD'S END by Edmond Hamilton FORTHCOMING FILMS: thumbnail reviews (Frederick Fell Inc., New York, 1951, $2*75) THE STORY: "The Man From Planet X" Robert Clarke, newspaper reporter, is summoned by Ray­ The dropping of an A-Bomb, a frequently mond Bond, scientist whom he had known during the war, to used theme these days, has here been given a an isolated spot in the Scottish moors where the latter is conducting world shattering experiments following the dis­ new and well-handled twist. Middletown, USA, covery of a new planet which is approaching earth at an was anyone's small hometown until one June alarming rate of speed. Clarke and Margaret Field, the pro­ fessor's daughter, stumble upon an interplanetary space ship morning when a bomb fell, blowing the place which has brought a weird inhabitant of the planet to earth off the man. Right off the map— see title. to pave the way for a planned invasion by his people. He is friendly until William Schallert, power-hungry associate of Middletown finds itself projected forward Bond's, abuses him in efforts to extract scientific secrets. Then into earth's dying days, the air cold and he terrorizes the countryside until he and his vessel are de­ musty to breathe, the sun an old red ball.As stroyed by artillery fire. might be expected of such a situation, and Hamilton, the good citizens of Middletown THE STORY: "The Thing From Another World" and those others of the future fall to see An emergency call from a group of scientists working on eye to eye on many things. Readable. -MBW a secret project at the North Pole brings a group of army aviators, led by Kenneth Tobey, .and a newspaperman, Douglas Spencer, to the scene from an air force base in FOUR-SIDED TRIANGLE by William F. Temple Alaska. The scientists advise that a strange aircraft has (Frederick Fell Inc., New York, 1951, >2.75) fallen a few miles away, and Tobey organizes a search. The craft, frozen under ice, is completely destroyed when a bomb is used to melt the ice. However, a weird figure is This is a curious book which at first found buried in a block of ice nearby. This is The Thing, which is flown back to the base, and which turns out to be glance will turn away the casual browser— alive. Inadvertently the ice block is melted, and The Thing, which is to be deplored for the reader with a flying saucer invader from another planet, spreads havoc and death among the worldings until he is outsmarted and patience finds gold once past the plodding destroyed. beginning. Temple writes in a certain Brit­ ish tradition: slowly, much useless detail, infinite and careful attention paid to set­ tings, background and characters' actions. LAST PAGE TO PRESS: late news- On the debit side this loses readers who haven't the heart to wade through it; but on Look for science-fiction write-up of some the credit side, a magnificent mass of story kind in LIFE or TIME magazine. Reporters and movitation is gained at book's end. interviewed Ackerman before he sailed.

The dust jacket as good as gives the plot A writer's guild bulletin reports that GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION is "a dead rocket" away: two young English scientists, college buddies, discover the same girl. Forsaking but this has not been confirmed. (See simi­ the traditional fiction of one of them walk­ lar phony rumor nailed, page eight.) ing away into the lonely sunset, these boys decide to duplicate the girl so that each may have her. Good reading! -BT FANTASY MOVIE STILLS KINSMEN OF THE DRAGON by Stanley Mullen (Shasta Publishers, Chicago, 1951, ^5«5°) 8 X 10 glossy orints. Rare photographs from early and contemporary fantasy Mullen is one of the many fans who have films. Some of our titles are: turned to writing, and has placed several short stories in the nation's s-f magazines. "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1919) This is his first novel, mainly on the fan­ "Metropolis" (1926) tasy side, and the reader is constantly re­ "Frankenstein"(1931) minded of Merritt's MOON POOL while reading "King Kong" (1933) the story. "Things to Come" (1936) The tale hinges upon a shadow "Dead of Night" (19U6) world, found when an ocean liner plunges in­ "Beauty and the Beast" (19q-7) to the hole which drains the seas into the "Destination Moon" (1930) center of the planet. The inevitable battle And many more. Send for free list. shapes up, shadows from the other world bom­ bard the earth, and are repulsed. -BT FANTASY MOVIE STILL SALON IT'S YOUR ATOMIC AGE by Lester del Ray History of fantasy and science fiction (Abelard Press, New York City, 1951, $2’25) motion pictures presented in. 16 X 20 salon mounts ready for exhibition. Del Ray, a popular writer of science- Available for rental to fantasy groups. fiction, here presents a non-fiction volume Ask for descriptive sheet. on the A-Bomb and its after-effects, social, medical, political. In non-technical lang­ "MARS, A FANTASY TRAVELOGUE" uage, del Ray discusses facts about the bomb which are worth knowing: striking power, 16mm sound film for home or group effectiveness, possible future army and navy rentals. Write for details. use, transporting it as a weapon, safety factors, operating piles, and so forth. He HISTORIC CINEMA SERVICE presents data which many a "science-fiction 272A Hyland Street fan" could absorb and thus learn what much Cresskill, N.J. of the magazine fiction is all about. -BT 4

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: (by Roger Dard) FAN-NEWS ROUNDUP I would like to bring attention to what I believe is a surprising omission from all UHMHW available checklists, and a suggestion for rectifying that omission. In the various (by our unpaid correspondents) checklists published by fandom, nowhere is there any mention of the Ziff-Davis Quarter­ SAN FRANCISCO AREA: (by Stewart Metchette) ly Reissues. Since there are some screwballs such as myself who regard these reissues as The organized clubs in the area have not legitimate quarterly publications, and who changed---much. The 'Futurians ’ were formed actually collect them in addition to the when the old name of 'Golden Gate Futurian monthly editions, I think it is time these Society' was dropped, and consist mainly of issues are given a place in future check­ our clan living at 659 Oak St ... Mel Brown, lists. At the moment, collectors are com­ Jim Kepner, Dennis Fraser and myself. The pletely in the dark and lack such essential once-active people are now gone: Tackett, information as when the first one appeared, Bertram, Raphael, Aggie Rundle and George how many published to date, what years no Dennis (the latter two now married). A group numbers were published, and so on. of youngei’ fans have formed the 'Short Cir­ cuits', by far the most active club in the whole Bay area. The 'Little Men's Society' have clipped their meets to once a month and have almost dissolved. "Torquasion Times," bulletin of the 'Torpid Torquasions' is now defunct. Brown and Kepner's bookstore is likewise defunct, but expecting to re-enter CONFABS: business later on. The Washington (DC) Science- Fiction Association is holding (or has held) An exodus is being planned from Limbo their second annual "Disclave" on Sunday, Tower (659 Oak St.), with Brown, Kepner, and April 29th in the Hotel Statler. Firing off myself seeking a house and expecting to take at one p.m. in the Pan-American Room, the In Claude Plum Jr. when we move. Hans Rusch conference speakers are (was): Sam Moskowitz is being shipped to Detroit for a month's giving the 'inside story' on reader-response training by Lockheed-Boeing, hopes to obtain to Sprague de Camp's "Krishna" stories; Art additional training at New Orleans prior to Rapp, late editor of Spacewarp, discussing the convention, and will then be permanently the trials and tribulations of fan editing; in L.A. Right after the Portland convention, Seabury Quinn (the creator of Jules de Gran­ Michigan's Ray Nelson and family was located din); and L. Jerome Stanton. In Berkeley. Ray visited several times be­ fore he returned eastward, stopped over in Following the talks will be an auction Chicago, and became lost. Hal Shapiro is in to raise funds for someone's pocket, and im­ the Air Force, with mail coming from Anchor­ mediately afterwards, the film showing, "it age, Alaska. He's sold several yarns to the Happened Tomorrow." An evening session is s-f and other magazines under pseudonyms. scheduled for informal meetings.

HOLLYWOOD FILM FACTORIES: (by George Earley) As mentioned last issue, the 2nd annual Midwest Science-fiction Conference, sponsor­ In re, "Farewell to the Master.1* This ed by the Ohio clubs, is slated for May 19th picture has been retitled twice; first it and 20th at Beatley's Hotel, Russells Point, was "A Journey to Earth" and now it is call­ Ohio. Make room reservations directly to the ed "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Claude hotel and bring your swim suits because the Rains was originally scheduled for the lead joint is a lake resort. Dr. C.L. Barrett but now it seems Michael—Rennie will get it. and various other bigwigs will hold sway. At Filming starts in April, at 20th-Century. this writing, a caravan from Minneapolis and Chicago are planning to attend. GALAXY AUTHORS' INDEX: (by A.W. Bendig) The first annual convention of the Fan­ I have published and am enclosing a copy tasy Veterans Association convened in Werd- of an author-index for Volume One of GALAXY ermann's Hall, New York City, on April 22nd. SCIENCE FICTION. If your readers would like Sponsored by Fan-Vet officers James Taurasl a copy, they may have same by sending me a and Ray Van Houten, the affair featured a stamped and self-addressed envelope. ( 71)4)4 giant auction to raise money.for the purpose Kedron St, Pittsburg 8, Penna.) The index, of supplying overseas service fans with s-f for the first six issues of the magazine, books and magazines. Numerous original oil lists twenty-five authors with thirty-seven covers and interior illustrations were do­ stories, articles and features. nated by magazines, as well as manuscripts. Visiting editors, celebrities, and an old FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTIONS: (by H. Ken Bulmer science-fiction movie completed the program.

Astounding S-F has discovered an error RENT DODGERS: George 0. and Dona Smith in their calculations: overseas rate will be have moved from Philadelphia to 88-09 55th a year, instead of announced $10. Ave (6P), Jackson Heights, New York City. The London Scene (reported by Capt. Kenneth F. Slater)

A new magazine appearing in pocketbook­ format is SCIENCE FICTION FORTNIGHTLY, from Hamilton & Co, Ltd. (1 & 2 Melville Court, Goldhawk Road, London W-12.) Six numbers Bea Mahaffey, managing editress of OTHER have been published up to April, each con­ WORLDS, tossed a cocktail party in her Evan­ taining a full length novel; no shorts. The ston home recently for rival editor William editors state they hope to raise the stand­ Hamling and spouse, writers Ollie Saari and wife, Mark Reinsberg and wife, Ted Dikty, ard of science fiction in England, while our and Randall Garrett. Garrett phoned John W. critic-correspondent reports two of the six were reasonably good and the remaining four Campbell long-distance to ask why his maga­ weak. Priced at 1/6 each (about 21/), sam­ zine was 25/ in some states and 35/ in a few ple titles are: "Old Growler - Space Ship others; he learned Street & Smith were con­ No. 2213," "Seven to the Moon," & "Phantom ducting a test by offering 35/ editions in Moon." Several of the novels chronicle the four states, and watching sales figures. series of adventures of hero Jon J. Deegan. Nelson Bond's LANCELOT BIGGS: SPACEMAN, Edmond Hamilton's THE STAR KINGS, Fred­ is now available in a dollar edition, from ric Brown's WHAT MAD UNIVERSE, and George 0. Doubleday. Hal Clement's NEEDLE appeared in Smith's PATTERN FOR CONQUEST all will see the same priced edition last autumn. book publication this summer, at 9/6 each.

Anthony Boucher, co-editor of MAGAZINE John Windham's (who is J. Beynon Harris) OF FANTASY, was elected president of the DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS to be released in May. Mystery Writers of America last month. Tony F.G. Rayer's TOMORROW SOMETIMES COMES is out has published five mystery novels, numerous this month. Arthur C. Clarke's new novel, mystery and fantasy shorts, edited several THE SANDS OF MARS, due in September. H.P. anthologies, and at present reviews books Lovecraft's THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK, with a for the New York Times & Chicago Sun-Times. preface and introduction by August Derleth, has been issued here; likewise another weird Shasta Publishers (Chicago), unproductive tome, THE TRAVELLING GRAVE by L.P. Hartley. since early last year when they issued only two books, are attempting to make time with Dell's Bookshop (209-H Kirkgate Market, a heavy Spring and Summer schedule. By late Bradford, Yorks,) have released a check-list Summer all of the following titles should be of sixty-three British pocketbooks now in in circulation: print, including science, fantasy, mystery, weird and Tarzan titles. (1) A collection of short stories by Fredric Brown, SPACE ON MY HANDS; (2) the second edition of John Campbell's WHO GOES Len Moffat (Bell Garden, Cal.) and Anna THERE?, with a new dust jacket; (3) Robert Sinclare (Hollywood), were married in Febru­ Heinlein's THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH, which ary. Wedding day coincided with the date of is the second volume in his Future History the annual Los Angeles S-F Society's dinner series; (I4) BEYOND THESE WALLS by Rena Vale, honoring the best new local writer who blos­ a new 100,000 word novel; and (5) THE GREAT somed the previous year. Selected for dual BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION, an anthology edited spotlights were Moffat and Dave Lesperance— by Erie Korshak. Later on --but not sched­ the latter writing under pen-name Gene Dav­ uled because of production uncertainties— idson in TEN STORY FANTASY. Shasta expects to publish Everett Bleiler's GUIDE TO FANTASTIC LITERATURE, plus volumes George Earley's radio serial, "Jet Jim," of short stories and novelettes by Anthony has been revamped into a half-hour show and Boucher, and Theodore Sturgeon. began on Oxford, Ohio college-station April 13th. After completion of college in June, Jack Williamson's novel, THE MAKER, has Earley returns to the Air Force. been retitled and postponed. It is now set for May from Simon & Schuster, and will be Four writers are present on the Doubleday published as DRAGON'S ISLAND. Likewise, his list for the remainder of the year, making SEETEE SHOCK (under pen-name Will Stewart), that company with a total of eight books the is not expected from Gnome Press until June. leading science-fiction publisher of 1951*

Wilson Tucker has two books coming this L. Sprague de Camp's original tome, ROGUE year: RED HERRING, a mystery novel ready in QUEEN, will be published in July. And in July, and THE CITY IN THE SEA, his first s-f August, Robert Heinlein presents another new novel, for late next fall or winter. novel, THE PUPPET MASTERS. Following those in September will be editor Sam Merwin Jr.,- Frank Robinson and Jerry Sohl both have with THE HOUSE OF MANY WORLDS, and lastly, science-fiction novels in the early stages; in November, two novelettes under one cover, Robinson's yarn deals with post-atomic life, PROJECT EXCELSIOR and THE WANDERER RETURNS, while Sohl is concentrating on genetics. by Fletcher Pratt. 6

THE Lilith Lorraine's CHALLENGE, a magazine AMATEUR of s-f and fantasy poetry, has been kayo'd, DIGEST with the current l;th issue being the last. PRESS CHALLENGE will merge with DIFFERENT, another Lorraine magazine with seven years of steady Only a bare handful of worthwhile fan publishing behind it. D is a quarterly, at magazines have graced the opening months of $2 a year, from Rogers, Arkansas. 1951* While the deluge of journals from the amateur presses is as thick as ever, most of ODD and FAN VARIETY are a pair of monthly the output represents only wasted ink. Our magazines mimeographed in Poplar Bluff, Mo. choice of the world's two top fan magazines The former has a slight edge over the latter are SLANT, published by Walter Willis, 170 because of improved editing, a better crop Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Northern of writers and occasional printed covers. Ireland; and THE NEKROMANTIKON, edited by Both publications use articles, humor and Manly Banister, 1905 Spruce Ave, Kansas City news of a fannish variety, both torture the (1), Missouri. In these publications, qual­ reader with poor typing and spelling, almost ity appearance and contents are paramount. no proofreading. ODD, at 15/, is published by Duggie Fisher Jr, at 1J02 Lester Street. The Spring, 1951 issue of SLANT is not VARIETY, at a dime, is from Max Keasler at only the best of its line, it undoubtedly l|20 south 11th Street. equals and perhaps betters any fan magazine of the past twenty years; certainly it tops The Ruth Newbury-edited INCINERATIONS the professionally printed jobs of 1932-55. (9109 S.W. Oleson Road, Portland 19, Oregon) Willis, an amateur printer with pride in his continues as the untrammled free-speaker of work, sets the entire magazine by hand (I4.6 the amateur press world, with several essays pages this issue) and runs it off on a small and articles of tongue-in-cheek type. 10^. press recently donated by Manly Banister. James White, Bob Shaw and Banister decorate The Fantasy Amateur the pages with many cuts, wood- and linoleum Press Association is a blocks, some of which are reproduced in two group of publishers and and three colors. Some fiction appearing in writers who number 65 these pages have been picked up and reprint­ persons when they are ed by the professional magazines. at full strength -- and currently they are not, You can't buy SLANT--not with cash. The so a recruiting cam­ magazine situation being tight in Ireland, paign is being waged. Editor Willis credits suscribers with two To be a member of FAPA, issues of SLANT for each current science­ each fan magazine pub­ fiction magazine mailed to him. lisher is expected to print and deliver to Banister's NEKROMANTIKON (from Lovecraft the official editor no folklore) is likewise an excellent job of less than eight pages editing and publishing. He uses a printing of mimeographed or hektographed material per press for the covers and a few pages, and year— but the more the merrier. Four times a mimeograph for the bulk of the interior. a year the official editor mails to every The magazine specializes in amateur fiction member (in one large package) a copy of all which nears (and sometimes equals) the work such magazines sent to him; FAPA magazines of professionals. Woodcut illustrations are are exclusive in that they are Intended for used for dressing but the covers represent the membership alone and seldom reach out­ Banister's most painstaking work— a recent siders. Membership fee is $1.50 annually. one appearing in five colors. Writers without access to a mimeograph Until now the magazine has been published contribute to the magazines, thus fulfilling quarterly, but climbing costs and the great their activity requirements. Some publishers task of production has forced the editor to like Harry Warner have a magazine in each abandon that schedule. The next (5th) issue quarterly package, while others appear but will be ready in June (containing a minimum once or twice a year. For full information, of 61; pages) and will appear semi-annually write the secretary, Charles Burbee, 7628 S. thereafter. Price remains at 25/ a copy. Pioneer Blvd., Whittier, Calif.

QUANDRY, an up-and-coming mimeographed The ’’Peondex", now in preparation, is monthly published by Lee Hoffman, assisted announced as an accurate and up-to-date list by Lionel Innman, promises a return to the of all 19)49-1950 science fiction magazines, pre-war standard of informal fan magazines. together with a cross-index of authors and Q specializes in humor, with numerous column stories appearing in those years. Priced at articles and fan reporting. The duplication 50/, mimeographed, the booklet is expected is legible and attention Is paid to spelling to be ready soon. The index is published by and proofreading -- two items sadly lacking Charles Lee Riddle, PN1, USN., Fleet All- in a great majority of fan publications. Weather Training Unit (Pacific), c/o F.P.O., Dime a copy from Hoffman, 101 Wagner Street, San Francisco. Calif. Savannah, Georgia. The editors have striven to bring back old-time fan writers. (continued on next page) 7

Fan Magazines, continued: There remains two other methods of bol­ stering sagging circulations, one quite use­ The most northwestern of states, Wash­ less and one fairly effective. Fan editors ington, seems to share with Georgia a rising habitually choose the uesless method. Almost publishing activity. In and around Seattle, all fanzines are willing to sell or exchange a dozen or more fan magazines are appearing advertising space; and almost all such space on a subscription basis or through the ama­ is chock-full of notices for other fanzines. teur press association channels. Although This kind of promotion is 99% useless and the editor of one pro magazine persists in unproductive because the reader has long ago fouling up titles and publishers in his fan learned to overlook and ignore such adver­ reviews (NEWS LETTER was once published in tising, thanks to monotonous repetition. Seattle according to the column), many pub­ (Some months ago, NEWS LETTER placed a full- lications there are worth looking into. page ad in a well-established fan magazine, For a master-list of them all, a dime brings and to check results, offered sample copies you a copy of NAMELESSENTIALS, from William for two cents each. One request came In.) Austin, 5517 west 67th St, Seattle 7, Wash. Austin's magazine with the Jaw-breaking name One outstanding exception is a new guide to fan magazine publisher's, to such advertising is the the first issue covering the Seattle area. FANTASY ADVERTISER, pub­ lished in Glendale, Calif. ■it- # •if- & # A half-page notice, re­ peated in the following Nearly all fan editors and publishers issue, garnered more than desire to increase their circulations, even two dozen requests for before they Increase or barely improve the samples, and suscribers. quality and appearance of their journals. A few succeed. Four professional magazines The most effective way to gain new read­ run amateur-journal reviews, while a fifth ers, other than favorable reviews in the pro often mentions them in a news column. These magazines, is the systematic mailing of sam­ five sources are usually the best circula­ ple copies to new names. The NFFF membership tion boosters available to fan editors, but list and the 1950 FAN DIRECTORY each contain the five vary widely in their usefulness. about four hundred names and addresses, with other new names appearing in every issue of Roger Phillips Graham's long and gossip­ the science - fiction magazines. By setting laden column in AMAZING STORIES seems to be aside a certain number of copies of each new the best single source for promoting sample­ issue, and mailing those copies in alpha­ copy requests, and subscriptions. He has betical order to those four hundred names, plenty of space to spare, is informative and the fan editor can create a system to slowly opinionated, and reveals a genuine interest build his circulation. Sample copies thus in the fan magazines that is communicated to mailed to strangers brings a good return in the new reader. (NEWS LETTER gets more re­ direct proportion to the quality and appear­ quests for samples from his column than any ance of the journal. (A carefully worded, other single source, with fully half of the neatly mimeographed invitation inserted in samplers taking subscriptions later.) the sample aids in obtaining results.)

In second place as an interest-catcher Another and minor method is the display is the review column in STARTLING STORIES, of copies at a convention or conference, but although the busy, harried editor makes some the display value is lost unless a suscrlp- wonderous and startling mistakes in his com­ tion is obtained there and then. Attending ments, while his printer often attempts to fans gather up many such samples and are apt out-do him in fouling up listings. One can to ignore them all after returning home. He never be sure that any given title actually who extracts a long-term subscription when refers to the correct fanzine, or that the the fanzine is first being inspected, is the editors mentioned really edit that journal, editor who can improve his circulation. or some other publication on the page. This magazine is read by people who willingly can There now— go out and make a million. spare a dime for a sample.

In third and last place, still judging In a more serious vein, and a cut above by personal experience, is SUPER SCIENCE the average in presentation and duplication, STORIES. James Taurasi has a keen interest is CHIMERICAL REVIEW, jointly edited and in fan magazines, edits a superior job him­ published by John Kalas and Dennis Strong. self, but the meager space allotted him will (15/, 9^2 N.W. Scribner Ave, Grand Rapids, permit only a bare handful of reviews, and Michigan.) The magazine appeals to youn g even then wordage is kept to a minimum. The writers, has a large non-fan circulation, readers of SSS seem to be least interested. and prints controversial articles on contem­ porary topics. The March issue features an Rog Graham's wife, Mari Wolf, has only essay on a fantasy writers union. recently inaugurated a review department in IMAGINATION; the column is too new to judge Eva Firestone and the Nat'l Fantasy Fan its effectiveness. Ray Palmer’s OTHER WORLDS Federation are preparing a Fanzine Checklist frequently plugs fanzines in news columns. showing one hundred current titles. 8

Finney, Jack "The Third Level" Colliers, Oct. yth Jenkins, Will F. "Night Drive" Today's Woman, March Anthony Boucher (Berkeley, Cal,): "Some Sheldon, Walt bastard is going around spreading the rumor "Operation Reach" Colliers, May 20th that MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION Vonnegut, Kurt is about to fold; we 've heard it from sev­ "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" eral sources. You of all people should know Colliers, Feb. 11th about rumors/ So without going into evi­ "Thonosphere" Colliers, Sept. 2nd dential details or speculations as to the "Epicac" Colliers, November 25th motive behind this rumor-spreading, I 'll say that there 's exactly as much truth in our Do you know of any others?" folding as there was in your spectacular demise a year or so ago. ( Lacking both time and ability to comb all outside magazines, News Letter would be We'd be very pleased if you'd publish in pleased to print an annual compilation sub­ SFNL a formal denial of the rumor. We're mitted by Clack or any other reader. -BT ) still very much in existence and getting stronger with every issue.” Bob Silverberg (Brooklyn): "Taurasi's checklist of British science-fiction, 195°, ( We traced the rumor back to a Chicago was well done as far as it went .... but he editor, who in turn supposedly heard it from omitted a number (of such magazines) which a New York ditto. Where the New York man appeared in November and December. Here are found it is anyone's guess. -BT ) my corrections and additions: Sam Moskowitz (Newark, NJ): "I wrote to Originals: Police chief Ross Scott, of Newcastle, Ind., Science Fiction Fortnightly #1 nd, nn and he tells me that Claude Degler's brother Tales of Tomorrow #1 nd killed himself, while Claude is still alive Futuristic Science Stories #1 nd in California and was not implicated in any #2 nd way in the murder-suicide. That clears up Worlds of Fantasy #1 nd the Degler situation." #2 nd jUjT” ( Indeed yes J The many people who wrote Reprints from U.S. Sources: us mourning his supposed death will be happy Astounding S-F, V8 #1, December to know Superfan still rides. -BT ) Weird Tales, September and November Fantastic Novels (second series) #1 nd Wynne Clack (Detroit): "Throughout the Science Fiction Quarterly, #15 nd year you gave us a fairly good idea where to look for various science-fiction and fantasy Taurasi's list of British Amazing Stories stories in the magazines not devoted to the and Fantastic Adventures is also incomplete field. I also found quite a few you never by two numbers each. British fans are now mentioned, so how about coming through at getting reprint editions of (the above two) the end of each year with a list of all the plus Planet Stories, Fantastic Novels, Super original stories (no reprints) published in Science Stories, Astounding Science Fiction, non-fantasy magazines? Here is what I have Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories. cataloged so far for 1950: A new item has appeared called Amazing Scie­ nce Stories, supposedly a reprint from an Bond, Nelson S. Australian magazine." "The Pet Shop" Bluebook, March "Life Goes On" Bluebook, October ( Blame us, not Taurasi, for omissions "To People a New World" Bluebook, Nov. in his report. We rushed him by imposing a November deadline and not all magazines had Batsford, Ward been published at that time. Hereafter, we "The Needle of Space" Bluebook, July will run checklists in January issues. -BT) Bradbury, Ray "To the Future" Colliers, May 15th "The World the Children Made" SCIENCE FICTION NEWS LETTER SatEvePost, Sept. 25rd Cassens, Kenneth (Crossen -??) P.O. Box 260 Bloomington, Illinois "Gertie Grooms the Bride" Number 20 May, 1951 15/ Bluebook, March Subscription: seven issues for one dollar "A New Moon for Scilla” Bluebook, July Edited and published six times per year (by) Claggett, J.H. "Everything's Been Done Before" Bob Tucker Bluebook, December Artwork by William Rotsler (continued, next column)